Band-cutter and feeder



(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 1.

o. ALBERTUM M. JOHNSON.

` BAND GUTTER AND FEEDER..

No. 55,633.26.v E Patented Man-17.1896.

(No Model.)

l 3 Sheets- Sheet 2. 0. ALBERTUS .82; M. JOHNSON. l

BAND CUTTER ANI) FEEDER. l

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Hin ses (NQ Model.)

` 3 Sheets--Sheet 3.` 0. ALBERTUS 8v M. JOHNSON.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER.

Patented Magi AN DREW BvGlAHAM, PHUTUUYHUWEHIN GTUN. D C

OTTO ALBERTUS AND MARTIN BAN D-CUTTER PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNSON, or ALvORD, IowA.

AND FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters I atent No. 556,326, dated March 1'7, 1896.

Application led March 9, 1895. Serial No. 541,162. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that We, OTTO ALBERTUS and MARTIN JOHNSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Alvord, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Band-Cutter and Feeder, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention aims to provide an improved mechanism for automatically feeding the grain to the cylinders of thrashingmachines in such a manner as to obviate choking of the thrashing-cylinder, the grain being fed in bound bundles upon a carrier and moved thereby to rapidly-rotating cutters, by means of which the band by which the grain is bound is severed and the said grain being carried forward to the thrashingmachine between carriers which travel at unequal rates of speed.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for the aforesaid purpose which can be readily applied with slight changes, which will suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic, to the various styles of thrashing-machines now in use, and which, when not required for immediate use, can be folded into a compact form for purposes of storing or when it is desired to move the mechanism from one place to another.

A still further purpose of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for the purpose aforesaid which will be simple, easily manipulated, accessible in its parts for purposes of repair, cleaning, or oiling, and which will be durable and perform the desired work in a rapid and satisfactory manner.

Vith these ends in view and such others as belong to the particular construction of the mechanism the improvement consists essentially of the novel features and peculiar construction and combination of the parts which hereinafter will be more fully described and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a band-cutting and feeding attachment for thrashingmachines constructed in accordance with and embodying the essence of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine or attachment as seen from the reverse side of Fig. l. Fig. 3 visa top plan view of the mechanism. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line XX of Fig. 3, showing it attached to a thrashing-machine. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the shoe and the mechanism for actuating and guiding the same in its movements. Fig. G is a detail view of the adjustable bearings for the supplemental or auxiliary carrier. Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the folded condition of the mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the adjustable bearing for one end of the cuttersupporting shaft.

The framework for supporting the operating parts of the mechanism will be of suitable and appropriate construction according to the caprice of the designer and builder of the machine, and comprises a table l, which when the mechanism is in operative position inclines slightly to the horizontal, the receiving or outer end being the lower.

The outer portion, 2, of the table is hinged or pivotally connected to the inner portion, 3, so as to fold when it is desired to reduce the dimensions of the attachment, as when storing or moving the machine from one place to another. rlhis folding feature of the outer portion of the table is shown most clearly in Fig. 7. Side pieces 4 rise vertically above the plane of the table and prevent lateral displacement of the bundles or the grain after the latter has been placed thereon. The rear end portion 5 of the inner part, 3, is deflected, and-inclines rapidly in a reverse direction to the length and declination of the table l. At the point of ection between the parts 3 and 5 are located pulleys 6 to support the carrier where its upper portion makes a bend or changes its direction .of travel. These pulleys 6 are mounted upon a shaft 7, and serve no function other than to support the upper portion of the carrier 8 at the point of deiiection. Pulleys 9 are mounted upon a transverse shaft 10 at the lower end of the portion 5 of the table, and support the carrier 8 at said inner or lower end of the table. A bandpulley ll is provided on the projecting end of the shaft lO to be positively rotated, so as to impart movement to the pulleys 9 and the carrier 8 passing thereover. Pulleys 12 are located at the free end of the outer portion of the table, be'ing mounted upon a shaft 13, and are designed to support the carrier 8 at the outer or receiving end of the said table.

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The carrier 8 is an endless belt, and may be of any of the usual forms of construction common in this and analogous machinery. As shown, this carrier is formed of endless belts 14 and cross-bars 15, attached at their ends to the said endless belts 14 and provided on their top sides with teeth 16, which engage with the bundles of grain and move the same forward in a positive manner to the bandcutting devices. In order to take up any slack in the carrierSand maintain a desired tension thereon tightening-pulleys 17 are provided and mounted upon a shaft 18, which is journaled at its ends in pivoted arms 19, to the free ends of which are attached bars 20, which are adjustably connected at their upper ends with the framework of the attachment in any desired manner, preferably by means of a pin 21, passing through one of a series of openings 22 in the upper end of the said arms 19 and entering the said framework.

A second carrier, 23, is arranged at the delivery end of the carrier S, and occupies a position approximately parallel with the deflected end portion 5 of the table. This carrier 23 revolves at a higher rate of speed than the carrier 8, so as to feed the grain to the tln'ashing-cylinder in such a manner as to obviate choking. As the bundle reaches the carrier 23, the latter takes up the outer grain and feeds it to the thrashing-cylinder before the remote portion of the grain which is in engagement with the slower-traveling carrier 8 can be fed to the said thrashing-cylinder,

thereby resulting in a separation of the grain Aand a gradual feed thereof to the thrashingmachine. This carrier 23 is similar in construction to the carrier S, comprising endless belts 24 and toothed cross-bars 25. The upper end of the carrier 23 is supported upon pulleys 26, mounted upon a shaft 27, and its lower end is supported by pulleys 23 carried by a shaft 29. A band-pulley is mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 27 to receive a belt 31, by means of which motion is transmitted to the shaft 32 for actuating the shoe 33. Bars 34 are pivoted at one end and are adj usted at the opposite end by set-screws 35 for the purpose of increasing the distance between the shafts 27 and 29 for regulating the tension of the carrier 23.- These adjustable bars 34 have suitable bearin gs midway of their ends, in which the shaft 27 is j ournaled. Hence an adjustment of the said bars regulates the tension on the carrier 23 in the manner set forth.

Guards 33 are disposed between the carrier 23 and the inner portion of the carrier 8, and are attached at their lower ends to the cap or top piece of the thrashing-machine- These guards serve to prevent the toothed cross-bars of the carrier 23 from entering the thrashingmachine should they perchance become detached from their supporting-belt,thereby obl viating the ruin and destruction of the thrashing-cylinder and breast. The upper ends of these guards are attached to a cross-bar 37. rlhe guards 36 are composed of metal straps, and may be provided in any desired number, two being sufficient, one being located near each side of the machine.

The shoe 33 is located a short distance bclow the carriers 3 and 23, and is fianged or provided with extensions at its ends and top edge to prevent displacement of any grain which may fall thereon. This shoe is disposed so as to deliver the loose grain to the lower portion of the thrashing-cy1inder, and is provided on its rear side, near each end, with bars 38. The shaft 32 has its intermediate portion bent from a straight line connecting its end portions, so as to provide an eccentric or crank portion 39, which latter obtains bearings in the bars 38, the outer ends obtainin g bearings in arms 40, which are detachably connected with the frame of the mechanism, so as to admit of the ready detachment of the shoe when it is desired to gain access to the interior or cylinder of the thrashing-machine.

Short bars 4l project inward from the end standards 42 of the framework and are adapted to support the lower or free end of the shoe, the lower end portion of the bars 38 having portions cut therefrom to receive the end portions of the bars 41 and admit of the free workings of the said shoe. The bars 41, operating between the shoe and the bars 38, form guides and prevent the lower end of the shoe becoming displaced or iiyin g against the teeth of the thrashing-cylinder. A band-pulley 43 on the outer end of the shaft 32 receives the lower end of the belt 31, by means of which movement is imparted to the said shaft 32 and the shoe Notched bars 44 are provided on the front side of the shoe, so as to engage with the loose grain and feed the same in a positive manner to the thrashing-machine during the vibratory movements of the said shoe.

The bandecutting mechanism comprises a series of circular knives 45,which are mounted upon a shaft 46 and are maintained at a proper distance apart by collars 47 strung upon the shaft 46 and disposed between the cutters 45. These circular cutters comprise a series of cutting points or blades, giving each cutter in side elevation the appearance of a star-wheel having the points formed on curved lines. The shaft 46 is mounted in vertically-adjust able bearings 48, so that the required elevation of the cutters above the table can be regulated to suit the size of the bundles of grain. These bearings 4S are slotted and secured to stay-bars 49 by means of binding-screws 50, passing through the slots in the said bearings and screwing into the said stay-bars 49. A band-pulley 51 is provided on one end of the shaft 4G to receive the driving-belt 52, by means of which movement is imparted to the said shaft. The opposite end of the shaft 4G is provided with a band-pulley 53, which is connected by means of a belt 54 with a corresponding pulley 55 on the outer end of the IOO IIO

shaft 27. Asmall band-pulley56 is provided on the shaft 46 adjacent to the band-pulley 5l and is connected by a belt 57 with the bandwheel 11 on the shaft 10, so as to transmit motion to the carrier 8. A series of guards 58 encircle the shaft 46 between the cutters 45 and prevent entanglement of the grain with the said shaft 46 in the operation of the machine. These guards 58 are attached at one end to the cross-bar 37, and are curved downwardly, thence around the shaft 46 and rearwardly, and are attached to a cross-bar 59 disposed in parallel relation with the cross-bar 37.

The table l is divided longitudinally by a detachable partition 60, which is supported at one end upon the cross-bars 37 and 59 and at its forward end upon a cross-rod 6l near the free end of the folding portion of the table l. This partition GO has a notch 62 formed in its lower edge near the front end to receive the cross-rod 6l, and its rear end portion is bent to provide a socket 63 to receive a vertical extension 64 on the cross-bar 37. By means of the partition 60 bundles may be alternately fed upon the edge portions of the carrier 8 and be moved thereby in proper relation to the band-cutting mechanism without danger of the said bundles becoming displaced or getting crosswise of the carrier.

The mechanism herein specifically set forth may be attached to a thrashing-machine in any desired manner, so as to properly feed the grain to the thrashing-cylinder, the free end of the table being supported in any suitable manner, preferably by means of the stayrods 65, which are also used to secure it in the folded position. The attachment being applied to athrasher, as 66, and the parts being set in motion substantially in the manner hereinbefore specified, the grain, in bound bundles, is placed by an attendant upon the carrier S and is advanced thereby to the cutting apparatus or knives 45, by means of which the bands are cut or severed. The grain being thus released is advanced by the carrier S until it comes in engagement with the carrier 23, which, revolving at a higher rate of speed than the carrier 8, takesI up the outer portion of the grain and moves it more quickly to the thrashing-cylinder than that portion of the grain which is in engagement with thecarrier S and not yet brought in contact with the carrier 23. By this means the bundle is separated and lengthened out, so to speak, and the grain is gradually or progressively fed to the threshing-cylinder in such a manner as to obviate choking thereof, which frequently happens when the entire bundle is fed at one operation and time to the thrashin g-machine. The advantanges of feeding the grain progressively are manifest, especially in the case of wet or damp grain, which,

if'fed in large bulk to the thrashing-cylinder, will choke and cause injury to the thrashingmachine and necessitate a suspension of operations in order to remove the obstructing grain and repair resulting damages.

In the practicalizing 0f the attachment changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A band-cutter and feeder comprising a table having its inner end portion deflected at an brupt angle, an endless carrier mounted upon the table and conforming thereto, pulleys vertically adjustably supported beneath and engaging with the lower portion of the said carrier, a second carrier located opposite the inner end of the table and acting in conjunction with the inner deflected portion of the carrier thereof and traveling at a different relative rate of speed, adjustable bearings for a supporting-pulley of the said second carrier, guards interposed between the co-operating portions of the two carriers and having their lower ends extending beneath the lower roller of the said second carrier, a vibrating shoe located at the delivery end of the table-carrier and forming a continuation thereof, and having cut-away bars receiving projecting portions of the framework, a bandcutting mechanism, and guards folded between their ends and coming between the cutters, substantially yas shown and described.

2. A band-cutter and feeder comprising a table having its outer portion constructed to fold and having theinner portion deflected at an abruptV angle, stay-rods arranged to support the outer portion of the table when eX- tended and to secure it in place when folded, alongitudinal partition detachably connected with the table, a carrier arranged to travel upon the said table and conform to the outline thereof, a second carrier located opposite the inner end of the table and acting in conjunction with the inner deflected portion of the carrier thereof and traveling at a different relative rate of speed, guards interposed between the co-operating portions of the said carriers, a vibrating shoe located at the delivery end of the table-carrier, and a band-cutting mechanism, substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

' OTTO ALBERTUS.

LNIARTIN JOHNSON. Witnesses:

O. C. COLLMAN, WM. HoRsFALL.

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